Written by: Htet Myint
CLARIFICATION: The original version of this article was altered slightly to reflect a necessary clarification: Southern Adventist University has offered cultural credits to students for taking institutional surveys before this year. However, it has never offered this many credits (a total of six for each student that takes all three surveys).
In an effort to enhance student engagement and gather insights into student experiences, Southern Adventist University has rolled out an altered cultural credit incentive program tied to its major student surveys. The initiative aims to encourage higher participation rates among students in three surveys the university is conducting this semester.
Chris Hansen, director of Institutional Research and Planning, confirmed that the program was designed to elevate the response rate for the Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) Mental Health survey, the Experiencing Belonging survey and the Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) Student Satisfaction Inventory. According to Hansen, these surveys play a crucial role in assessing various aspects of student life, mental health and satisfaction levels.
To incentivize participation in these surveys, the university has introduced a structured reward system approved by Student Development. Students will receive cultural credits for completing each survey, with additional credits awarded for participating in multiple surveys. Dennis Negrón, vice president for Student Development, confirmed the details of the incentive structure. Students who complete one survey will earn one credit, while those who complete two surveys will earn three cultural credits and those who complete all three will earn six cultural credits.
With the support of increased incentives, the university anticipates an uptick in survey participation, ultimately leading to a more informed and responsive campus community.
“The goal is to have high response rates on all the surveys, as they cover different aspects of student experience that are important to understand,” Hansen said.
The QEP Mental Health survey, which students received on Feb. 26, is an annual assessment aimed at gauging student stress, distress and overall well-being. According to Hansen, it forms a crucial part of the university’s QEP, providing insights into the effectiveness of mental health curriculum and outreach efforts.
The Experiencing Belonging survey, scheduled for distribution after Spring Break, will delve into the concept of belonging and its manifestations in different facets of campus life. This survey will be conducted by Kathy Purnell, special advisor to the president on diversity and strategic planning, according to Hansen.
Additionally, Hansen said the nationally benchmarked RNL Student Satisfaction Inventory, slated for April, seeks to measure students’ satisfaction levels with various aspects of campus life. This survey is administered every two years to serve as a tool for continuous improvement and strategic planning within the university.
All survey responses will be anonymous and will not affect students’ standing within the university, according to Hansen. Reports on survey completion, however, will be forwarded to the Student Development office to track student participation.
